Game on? Nope, as NHL axes schedule through Oct. 24 — and, da, Pavelski is heading to the KHL

Difficult to stay right on top of things while trying to cover the America’s Cup World Series in San Francisco with the Blue Angels breaking the sound barrier (kidding, of course, but it is loud) overhead.

But while I’ve been distracted, the NHL went ahead and canceled two weeks of hockey, 82 games through Oct. 24. Essentially, it’s one team’s season down and 29 to go.

All I’ll do for now is pass along the emailed statements from the two sides, deputy NHL superintendent Bill Daly and NHLPA executive director Don Fehr. Then it’s back to today’s assignment in San Francisco.

Fehr was the first to share his thoughts with the media:

“The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilateral choice of the NHL owners. If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue.

“A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock-out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions.

“Nevertheless, the players remain committed to playing hockey while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating partner.”

Ninety-two minutes after that, this landed in the IN box from Daly:

“We were extremely disappointed to have to make today’s announcement.
The game deserves better, the fans deserve better and the people who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better.

“We remain committed to doing everything in our power to forge an
agreement that is fair to the players, fair to the teams and good for our
fans.

“This is not about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ a negotiation. This is about
finding a solution that preserves the long-term health and stability of the League and the game.

“We are committed to getting this done.”

******Joe Pavelski became the first Shark to head to the KHL with the news today that he’ll be joining Dinamo Minsk.

That’s a pretty major change of scenery and, for now at least, he advised me that the rest of the family is staying home.

******Made a few enemies on Twitter when I suggested that because the Giants and A’s are in the playoffs, the Sharks won’t be missed as much around here as the team might prefer.

Not arguing the merits of baseball over hockey. Just thought I was stating the obvious in looking at the Bay Area’s sports landscape.

******One more thing: For those looking for a hockey fix, a quick plug for the San Jose State hockey club. They play at Sharks Ice and their season starts Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. home game against Southern Cal.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

I’m growing less & less sympathetic to both sides. Owners are going too far in playing hardball but they do own the damn teams and take all the risk. I’m in a sales business that essentially has the equivalent of owners, players and agents and in these sorts of businesses, as costs to up, the percentage of revenue that goes to the “players” decreases in order to cover the owner’s ever-increasing expenses. Yet, in real dollars, our “players” continue to make more and more as they collect a slightly smaller share of a much larger pie. It’s much the same here. These clowns aren’t that far a part but in the meantime they are creating divide between each other and between themselves and the fans. That doesn’t go away when the dust settles, even if the arenas are full.

Just cancel the damn season and get it over with so I can focus on something else.

oscarthedog

DP,

You are correct, with the Giants and A’s in the playoffs, the 49ers playing well and the Warriors starting up shortly, the Sharks will be an afterthought to most of the sports fans in the bay area except for the few who think the NHL is the biggest pro sports league in the world…please. All you have to do is look at the Giants Phillies playoff game when the Sharks were playing the Devils at the tank. Hundreds of people would rather watch the end of that playoff game than the start of the hockey game. Just saying.

The only people hurt by this lockout are the people who work at the downtown restaurants and hotels. People will move on to other activities and events. Good luck to the NHL, they’re going to need it. You fooled the people once by canceling an entire season and they came back, think they will again? Press that luck and find out.

Sharkie2112

I read that ESPN online was going to stream KHL games. If they can only get ESPN to broadcast KHL games on TV we wouldn’t have any need to the NHL. Wouldn’t that be funny.

spooky

as far as I know Fehr drove owners into lockout.
NHL opened negotiation a year ago with NHLPA responding they want the current system and refused negotiations just like they do now and will continue to do so.

Uncle Slavko

Spooky you’re kooky!

GP

DP,

You did stated the obvious. For the people that got mad at you for dishin’ the truth, shame on them. If it were Shark team officials that got mad, they are missing the impactness(not a word). They should welcome the distraction.

IMO, the missing of the Sharks and hockey is mitigated because the A’s are the “wonder” team of sports right now — low payroll but WIN a division nearly miraculously.

Fred Sanford

Gotta agree with GP here. DP indeed, you did state the obvious. The Giants and A’s are in the playoffs, the 49ers are one of the better NFL teams, (the Raiders? well…), the Warriors are starting up, college football season is in full swing…

With everything else going on in the Bay Area sports landscape there is no doubt that the Sharks are not going to be missed as much, at least in the short term. Anyone who can argue that point is simply does not know what he/she is talking about. I should be surprised that anyone was arguing that point on Twitter, but then again, it is Twitter.

Maybe it is because I don’t expect much from the Sharks as they are presently constituted, but I don’t care if they cancel the entire season, and that is sad.

lawkout

from the Cotsonika column—

“The NHL should be on the rise after seven years of record revenues and seven different Stanley Cup champions, a marketable product with exciting action and competitive balance. Instead, the league is taking a step backward, again. It’s a joke. It has lost 1,698 games to labor disruptions since 1992, more than the other three major sports leagues combined – if you still consider the NHL one of the major sports leagues. Major League Baseball has lost 938. The NBA has lost 504. The NFL has lost zero.”

a baseball guy and a basketball guy ruining the best league in hockey.

oh, and btw folks, if you want to punish the lockout perpetrators, then by all means do NOT buy anything from the concessions at any arena or ballpark, because Sportservice runs a lot of them, and that money goes right to the pocket of the biggest hardliner owner who is most responsible for the last 2 lockouts, Jeremy Jacobs of Boston Bruins, who also owns Sportservice.

Alex

I may be in the minority here but no amount of success by local teams in other sports will be enough for me to not miss the game I love to watch and yes, Fred Stanford, I DO know what I am talking about. And I DO care about how much of the season we are going to miss.

Fred Sanford

Alex,

Perhaps you should re-read DP’s statement:

” the Sharks won’t be missed as much around here as the team might prefer”

Maybe you don’t care about the other sports and will miss each and every Sharks game dearly that doesn’t happen. I’m sure there are others just like you, and probably several posters here.

But in GENERAL, which is the premise here, the Sharks are not going to be missed as much (in the short term) with what else is going on in the Bay Area sports landscape right now. That’s the point DP was trying to make and was excoriated for it on Twitter. I was agreeing with DP and still maintain that anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know what they are talking about.

General Soreness

Fire Alexei Torbin!!!

Alex

Fred Stanford,
According to you, when I say I will miss hockey regardless of how well other Bay Area teams are doing I don’t know what I’m talking about. And I contend that I do and I contend there are other people in the area who know what they are talking about. That’s all. For me there’s no substitude for hockey, simple as that.

lawkout

totally agree with you, Alex. does anyone seriously believe that a 49er fan would say “oh, as long as the Giants are playing well, I won’t miss my Niners while the NFL games are locked out.”

no way, no how.

Alex

Can you think of a Maple Leafs fan saying just because the Raptors and Blue Jays are doing great I won’t miss the Leafs as much. IMHO, just goes to show you how far we still are from the traditional hockey markets. A lot of sports fans, not a whole lot of pure hard core hockey fan.

KnightPucky

AND the SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES are dominating the league this year and are headed to the playoffs as well! But I do miss the SHARKS!

Hockey still has aways to go before it gets the respect it deserves. However, with so many lockouts in such a short time, I can understand why people aren’t intrested or have lost interest. Honestly, the only reason I got into the Sharks was because of my daughter and her friends, and I wanted to support business here in SJ. In addtion, I also support other Bay Area teams. So, I support what DP said.

lawkout

“I think when players make comments, sometimes it’s directed towards 30 owners, but I think a lot of us feel that it’s not across the board. It’s a certain group of teams that are controlling 30 others,” Boyle said.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me that eight teams can control the fate of 22 other ones.”

Guess what, Boyle. You and most of the players know that Jeremy Jacobs of Boston is the main culprit in demanding these hardline lockout bargaining tactics, and that he is the biggest obstacle to CBA agreements. So, why don’t you and the players union demand that the Boston Bruin star players like Chara and Bergeron and Seguin demand a trade from the Bruins. put some pressure on the guy who causes the lockouts in the first place.

wyldbull

So I can buy 49er season tickets for the same price as my mid level season tickets at the tank? YES. I can sell a few 9er games and make enough to buy a 10 pack of Sharks games? Yes. Done and done!

g-bum-man

No matter how this “lockout” is resolved, one thing is certain. The owners and the players will both expect to make MORE money when the game returns..and they will expect me and you to pay for it. I am getting pretty tired of being taken for granted by both parties. Not sure I will go to anymore Sharks games in the future.
ME pissed!

Chiageiya

Thanks for plugging Spartan hockey, DP! It’s a great family experience and I hope to seefolks out there tonight!

sj10

And that is the real issue that both sides are ignoring at their peril. THE FANS. They have to face facts, nhl hockey simply does not have the wide audience that the other 3 sports do in north america. Thus, the fans’ support is fragile after 2 slaps in the face in 7 years, and the forgiveness won’t be there this time because the greed is front and center for everyone to see.

Very poor business to alienate your customers in order to make a short term gain over your bargaining opponent. It is a net loss longterm of goodwill and credibility with the customers, and that is dumb, and not good business tactics.

JB

General Soreness – “Fire Alexei Torbin!!!”

Had to Google it but – LOL. You’re absolutely right! No Gagarin Cup with AT!!! 😉

At least Pavs should feel a little at home; Last spring, Dinamo Minsk lost in first round of the playoffs, 0-4 to Dynamo Moscow (the eventual champion).

sj10

from ProHockeyTalk——

“Surprise: Bettman, Daly, and Fehr brothers meet in Toronto”

You can picture the surprise today with the news John Shannon of Sportsnet broke reporting that Gary Bettman, Bill Daly and the Fehr brothers, Donald and Steve, all met quietly in Toronto. Daly was straight to the point saying, “Yes we had a meeting. Nothing else to report at this time.”

Daly tells Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com a bit more about what they discussed.

“General discussion of where we were and how to try to move process forward from here. We talked about possibly scheduling some meetings for next week, but mostly to deal with the other issues.”

While it’s just a meeting, yesterday’s tough talk from both sides made it feel like it would be a while before the two sides chatted again. Seeing them get together today can only be seen as a positive sign.

NyetgagarincupwithAlexeiTorbin!!

I’m just Putin you guys on

sj10

Niemi signed a one month contract to play with the Pelicans in Finland

GP

“Can you think of a Maple Leafs fan saying just because the Raptors and Blue Jays are doing great I won’t miss the Leafs as much.”

Actually, I can. I’ve known many a Leafs fan. The level of disgust for the last 50 years is overtly placed in the faces of these fans in wrinkles, frowns and sneers. Many that are here in the bay area, are happy (when hockey is is session anyway) that they can go to an NHL hockey game that is somewhat affordable, get season ticks with out a generation needing to die off to be next in line for the chance to buy, and owners that care about trying to win. That cannot be said for the Toronto area. Can it?

GP

Alex,

So to my point, when there is a distraction away from NOT hockey, it’s possible for a passionate hockey fan to rationalize.

I don’t think you’re understanding Fred’s statement. IMO, he did not say what you boiled it down to. I do understand your viewpoint though. Personally, that is where I am in “missing” the hockey. I DON’T care about the other stuff, baseball, football, basketball that tends to happen around here. Not a distraction for me. But, living in the bay area for so long, and seeing the sport teams do well and not so well, or badly, that goes for all 4 major sports; I think the passionate will want or need the distraction. There are, or has to be degrees. Doesn’t there?

IMO, part of human nature is to gravitate toward something that is successful. That can be a good thing for the society. Personally, I won’t gravitate to a bandwagon A’s fan. And I wont go out of my way to get to a Giants PO game. If given ticks to Candlestick on the 50 yard line, I’ll pass. I might watch on TV if I’m not playing golf instead.

I will miss the NHL hockey absolutely. Personally not distracted by the other stuff. Instead, I’ll let life get in the way or fill the void. It tends to do that anyway whether I like it or not.

Fred Sanford

Alex,

If you want to make this all about you, then that is fine. If you want to bring up Toronto, where hockey is the #1 sport BY FAR, then that’s fine too. Let me break this down a little simpler:

If there was a labor action in the NFL, would the lack of football games, and more specifically, Raiders and 49ers games, be missed by the Bay Area sporting public? Absolutely! It would be a huge deal.

If there was a labor action in MLB and there were no Giants, A’s or any other baseball games in the summer, would it be missed by the Bay Area sporting public? You better believe it. It would be a big deal.

There are no Sharks games. Is hockey really being missed right now by the Bay Area sporting public – especially in light of the success of some Bay Area franchises at this point in time? Outside of a few hardcore hockey fans, not really.

The Giants, the A’s, the 49ers, the Raiders (for the wrong reasons), Stanford, Cal (again, for the wrong reasons)…those are the teams that are dominating the Bay Area sports landscape right now. Stories about them are front page news. The lack of Sharks games hardly registers a blip on that same sports landscape.

And yes, if you think I am wrong on this, you don’t know what you are talking about. Check the newspapers here in this area – both in print and online. What are the front page stories? Listen to KNBR and The Game. What do you hear? Not much about the lack of Sharks games, leading to DP’s assertion that, they won’t “be missed as much around here as the team might prefer.”

gbs417

NHL says, its not about winning or losing a negotiation, and they are committed to getting this done…I call bs! Bold faced lies like it was a political candidate debate!

sj10

I would like to see John Davidson as the commissioner. He is a former player who became a very popular broadcaster, and then was successful as an exec with the Blues.

He is a very reasonable man who loves the sport, and is well versed on both sides of the equation, as a player and a team exec. He knows everybody in the game, he knows both business and player issues, and he is very well liked by everybody in the league.

He would not be divisive like Bettman, and he would not be lookin to shut down the league as the first resort like Bettman does regularly.

MW

I’m with DP’s Twitter statement. With the A’s and Giants in the playoffs, the 49ers playing well and the Raiders operating as a hot mess, there is PLENTY to of sports to consume without hockey. Even if the NHL season was underway, it would be afterthought for many of us.

Hockey only

if hockey is an “afterthought”, then you are not a hockey fan, but just a general sports fan visiting.

hockey is certainly an afterthought at this juncture. minus the nlpa and owners squabbling. don’t expect a 2012-13 season folks. im a bay area sports fan and support all teams, but the way the nhl is handling this they should be ashamed! the main point here is, so what for hockey… what about the folks who are unemployed as a result of this mess? and too teach us a lesson the owners will inflate the ticket prices once again as a result of their losses. guess who will be picking up the tab? the afterthought fan…

so in short go all bay area sports teams… this mean you too radiers.

YNWA!! justice for the 96!!!

Hockey only

He said that even if the season was underway, it would be an “afterthought” to him. That tells us that anyone who feels that way is not a hockey fan, but just a general sports junkie who occasionally visits hockey.

SFBULLS

When are the sharks going to send Heemskerk to the SF Bulls?? they have 3 goalies in Worcester, and the Bulls need a better goalie than Taylor.

BASS

My opinion on why you don’t read a lot about the state of negotiations in the newspapers, or hear much about it in radio and television is because these stories take space and time to produce and present, something the media chooses not to afford at this time. How many times do you read from DP that stories he publishes here “didn’t make the print edition”, and thats when news is slow (no America’s Cup, no Fleet Week, no playoff scheduled, etc). The editors decide what makes the cut and what doesn’t. It’s driven by “public interest”, in the eyes of the staff, who report what’s happening at the time, and face it, there’s not much happening in the NHL these days. It’s very rare that the press reports on how many cars don’t cross the GG Bridge, or how many people don’t go see a new movie on the big screen, or list events that are not going on in the area. I don’t think the missing coverage is due to lack of interest, but more lack of material, combined with a lot going on that isn’t normally would’t take up valuable time and space to report. At this time, the NHL gets overlooked by the media, but not by the fans. We are still searching obscure sources for stories in areas that are not having to compete for story space. As for the discussion here, both sides are right, and it has nothing to do with knowing what you are talking about or not. It’s all about selling the hot story. I’m sure we will read more about the NHL as soon as the America’s Cup, Fleet Week, and the MLB have concluded.

Sorry for the wall of text. I should really break it up into paragraphs, I know. Damn, pecking this out on the iPhone wears me out 🙂

Be good to each other.

sj10

This sums up the situation pretty well——

Imagine the Big Four meeting Friday in Toronto — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy, Bill Daly; NHL Players’ Association executive director Don Fehr and his brother, Steve Fehr.
Now imagine a popsicle sitting in the center of the table. The Big Four’s job is to divide it.

Because the popsicle is already out of the freezer, it is melting steadily, drip by drip, day by day. The faster the Big Four reach an agreement, the more they will have to divide. The longer they take, the less will be left. Eventually, there comes a point where the popsicle won’t be a popsicle anymore — just a pool of goo, a sticky mess.

Snow Shovel

Bass, that’s not much of a wall. You would have to take lessons from Jeremy12345678 or whatever his name was to get us irritated. 🙂

BASS

Sorry, Snow Shovel, I know, I have to up my game. 🙂 I remember Jeremy 9@#$%#^2. Nice fella, lol. Who was the poor person with the stuck caps lock key? Hope he/she got that fixed.

Refsmom

Regarding San Jose State games:

Our experience is that they are extremely crowded. But that’s not the main problem—the problem is the music and announcer are turned up to such incredibly high volume. I do not mind the noise at the Sharks at all. But the level of volume at SJSU games is unbelievable. Deafening. The announcer screams, loves to hear his own voice! Not a fun experience.

Shattenkirk

Last January I was up in SJ to catch the Sharks/Sabres game with my pops. We were driving through downtown the day after and I saw some goalie pads in a compartment on a tour bus. I jumped on my phone to see what pro team was coming to town and then realized it had to be a college game. They were traveling real classy and staying in a nice hotel downtown, not bad for college hockey.

Anyways, makes me kick my own a** for not trying harder in high school and realizing there really was college hockey in California.

JB

“Eventually, there comes a point where the popsicle won’t be a popsicle anymore — just a pool of goo, a sticky mess.”

Which makes me wonder which of the owners are invested in paper towels and lemon Pledge.

Scott Peterson

Sarcasta-Hockey. Looks like the NHL and some of the above (no need to give names) need a bit of “Butters Creamy Goo.”

Want to get the owners attention (they are the ones that have locked out the players)? It will also get the players attention.

Well, if on the date of the cancelled opening night game, all the season ticket holders for each of the teams show up at the various arenas and loudly demand an end to this lockout. Show up, be loud, be mad as hell and not going to take anymore. Be not ignored!

Quit being unheard, quite arguing about whether it is the owners or players. Make sure they get the message, they have your money and you are unhappy. Solve this quick or you want it all back, now.

You didn’t plan to be somewhere else for opening night. Be heard!!!
Show up!!! Make then listen!!! They will find a solution quick!!!

tom

JD is looking for a new team,get rid DW

Bettfehr

Daly: “Major economic issues aren’t on the agenda” for this week’s CBA talks”

No hurry, guys. Just take your time, waste another entire season, and destroy the league with your greed.

Guess what, NHL, apathy is setting in, and that is worse than anger. When the fan base says we don’t care anymore, it is time to fold up the tents.

Hockeynut

Well after this weekend it looks like the A’s and Giants are about done. At least you still have the 49ers and the Warriors are starting soon (not sure if that is a blessing or a curse though) I think we have to be prepared for a 2012 without hockey from now on. Let’s just hope they come to their senses after the New Year.

GO BULLS. Any word on what I asked earlier? (with CSNBA carry any live games?)